Eco-efficiency Indicators Research Articles

Eco-efficiency from cradle to grave design system based on atmospheric conditions in the biodiesel manufacturing sector produced from Jatropha curcas for sustainable cleaner production

Environmental impacts associated with the use of fossil fuels and their potential limitations in supply are driving the development and use of biofuels. A customised framework for eco-efficiency in biodiesel processing sector was considered. The major concepts, definitions, framework assessment, cradle to grave inventory of eco-efficiency are also considered. The paper also gives a brief introduction to the use of indicators, especially environmental performance indicators and eco-efficiency indicators and describes the methodology to be used to assess the environmental impact of biodiesel. The environmental impacts are compared with the major biofuel producing crops like Jatropha, palm, soybean, canola and rapeseed. Different weighting techniques are used to present and evaluate the environmental characteristics of biodiesel produced from Jatropha curcas. With assistance of normalisation values the eco-efficiency was demonstrated

Based on Entropy Weight and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Ecological Benefits of the Project—Analysis on Cold-Formed Thin-Walled Steel Residential Structure

In this article, the entropy weight and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation methods is applied to Ecological Benefit of cold-formed thin-walled steel residential structure. Designed indicators system of Ecological benefits about cold-formed thin-walled steel residential structure, we divided into nine indicators in the system, then we grant questionnaire through selecting experts of project benefits Evaluation and experts on study about cold-formed thin-walled steel residential structure, Scoring the importance of eco-efficiency indicators, Using the Entropy weight to determine the weights of evaluation indexes, then combining with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model, comprehensive evaluation on a variety of factors is made, analyzing ecological benefits about cold-formed thin-walled steel residential structure, eventually the result of Comprehensive Evaluation of Ecological benefits about cold-formed thin-walled steel residential structure is obtained.

Integrating eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness into the design of sustainable industrial systems in China

As an important tool for environment management, eco-efficiency has been widely applied, but eco-effectiveness has only made progress on eco-design and life cycle management in recent years. Few have attempted to integrate eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness into sustainable industrial systems. In a new framework integrating eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness, both concepts can find unique roles and complement each other in industrial ecosystems to dissolve conflicts between industry and the environment. This article provides a case study of China in which eco-efficiency indicators (energy, water and waste utilisation intensity) have demonstrated great progress in China, but eco-efficiency cannot stop the increasing release of pollutants and their accumulating impact on ecological life-support systems. China must integrate eco-effectiveness and eco-efficiency into concrete sustainable development strategies, questioning whether limited resources are being used correctly. Both eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness are identified as important indicators in the development of sustainable industrial systems. In the framework of sustainable industrial systems, eco-effectiveness must begin to play a more important role.

Measurement of the Ecological and Carbon Footprint in Port Authorities

One of the tools used to determine and measure corporate sustainability is the corporate ecological footprint (CEF). CEF is useful both to understand the impact of human activities on the ecosystem and to provide the correcting measures necessary to minimize the impact produced. This impact, measured in hectares, can be transformed, so it is possible to obtain the amount in emitted carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent tons for a corporate carbon footprint (CCF). Knowing the CCF allows enterprises to be compliant with the measures necessary to mitigate climate change. In this study, the main comparative results of the calculation of the CEF and the CCF, together with other ecoefficiency indicators, are presented for two port authorities located in the Spanish North Coastline. For the calculation of the tons of CO2 emitted by the ports authorities, the composed method of financial accounts was used.

Implementing stricter environmental regulation to enhance eco-efficiency and sustainability: a case study of Shandong Province’s pulp and paper industry, China

There has been much debate on the topic of whether stricter environmental regulations can promote environmental performance and economic performance at the same time. Different researchers have used different indicators to measure environmental performance and economic performance in their empirical studies. However, it is a surprise that few studies have checked the relationship between environmental regulation and eco-efficiency, as the latter is widely regarded as a quite powerful tool of considering ecology and economy together. In this study the background is the implementation in 2003 of the Stricter Discharge Standard (SDS) in Shandong Province’s Pulp and Paper Industry (SPPI), compared to the national standards of China. The stricter regulations were intended to promote corporate change from passive management to active control and from end-of-pipe treatment to cleaner production. This study investigated the eco-efficiency trends of SPPI from 2001 to 2008 in three fields: water efficiency, energy efficiency and environment efficiency. A “de-linking” and “re-linking” tool was used to attain a further evaluation. The study showed that with the implementation of stricter regulation most of the efficiency indicators (except CO 2 emission and energy consumption) had achieved significant improvements, and the overall environmental performance trends of SPPI showed it to be more sustainable. However, the study also found that it was not enough to address a single indicator in the environmental regulation of the pulp and paper industry. More holistic eco-efficiency indicators need to be further considered and introduced to the industry as the next step to create true sustainable development.

Economic–environmental monitoring indicators for European countries: A disaggregated sector-based approach for monitoring eco-efficiency

Eco-efficiency links economic efficiency with environmental efficiency. The main purpose of the concept is to identify and implement activities to enable production that is both economically more efficient and cleaner. This means that parameters with a high indicative value have to be used. Since both the environmental and the economic performance of industries must be described concurrently, environmental intensity appears to be a good indicator of eco-efficiency. Environmental intensity is environmental impact per unit of economic performance. In this paper, the environmental impact of industry classes is derived from emission data, released by the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER), and then aggregated and assessed using Eco-Indicator 99, a single-score life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) method. The calculated ratio is thus an accurate description of the environmental–economic state of industry classes. The main advantage of this approach is the underlying consistent statistical framework, that permits, on a disaggregated level, economic data to be correlated with ecological data and to be frequently updated. This single indicator facilitates a comparison of environmental intensity of different industry classes. The paper shows that it is possible to deduce a disaggregated eco-efficiency indicator, which is exemplified using German data, however could be analysed for different European countries.

LCI modelling approaches applied on recycling of materials in view of environmental sustainability, risk perception and eco-efficiency

Purpose and scopeTwo ISO-compliant approaches on modelling the recycling of plastics and metals are frequently applied in life cycle assessment case studies and intensively debated: the recycled content or cutoff approach and the end of life recycling or avoided burden approach. This paper discusses the two approaches from three different perspectives: (1) the kind of sustainability concept served, (2) the risk perception involved and (3) the eco-efficiency indicators resulting from the two approaches.Results and discussionThe analysis shows that the recycled content approach serves the strong sustainability concept. It is based on a risk-averse attitude and results in higher eco-efficiency of metal scrap recycling as compared to primary metal manufacture. The end of life recycling approach serves the weak sustainability concept (losses in natural capital can be compensated by man-made capital). It corresponds to a risk-seeking attitude and results in higher eco-efficiency of primary metal manufacture as compared to secondary metal production.ConclusionsIt is concluded that a harmonisation of the approaches is hardly possible due to the value choices involved. It is the task of (private and public) life cycle assessment commissioners to decide on the appropriate modelling approach. National authorities may have a rather long-term and risk-averse perspective, whilst industries may prefer a short-term perspective leading them to select the recycled content and end of life recycling approach, respectively. Life cycle inventory databases need to be flexible to serve such opposing perspectives and to enable practitioners to adapt the modelling approaches according to the needs of the commissioner.

Eco-efficiency trends of the Flemish industry: decoupling of environmental impact from economic growth

A methodology for eco-efficiency reporting is proposed with eco-efficiency indicators for climate change, acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, eutrophication, energy consumption and waste generation. The method is applied to emission, consumption and production data of the Flemish industry provided by the Flemish environmental agency for the period 1995–2006. For climate change, acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity and eutrophication, the eco-efficiency improved by 39, 55, 41, 58, 72 and 53%, respectively. For each of these impact categories, the total environmental impact decreased despite an increase in production, indicating absolute decoupling of environmental impact from economic growth. The eco-efficiency indicator for energy consumption and waste generation improved by 16 and 14%, respectively. However, due to the increase in production, the total energy consumption and the amount of waste generated increased: for these two environmental themes decoupling from economic growth was relative. Despite the improved eco-efficiency, industry remains one of the main polluters in Flanders. The application of the method to emission, energy consumption and production data of the Flemish industry resulted in a comprehensive and correct source of information for the general public and the government. Moreover, it can serve as a basis for economically and environmentally sound decisions and for the evaluation of the impact of former decisions.

Material flow accounting of an Indian village

Abstract We are presenting material flow accounting and related indicators for an Indian adivasis village in 1983 (Sarowar, Dangs, Gujarat). It gives a point of comparison with modern nation-wide material flow accounting. The aim is to test the feasibility of indicators of dematerialization of the economy in poor economies. We measured the annual material flows within the Sarowar village (670 inhabitants) in 1982–1983. The method was a combination of surveys, real time measurements, indirect measurements and laboratory dry matter measurements. The results were translated into recent concepts of material flow accounting (MFA), and compared with nation-wide studies. The total material requirement (TMR) of Sarowar (excluding air and water), USA, Japan, Germany and The Netherlands is respectively about 5, 84, 46, 86 and 84 tons per capita per year. The input (all biotic materials are expressed in tons dry matter) totalised 15.8 t DM cap−1 y−1 in Sarowar, which consists mainly of air (11 t cap−1 y−1) and biotic primary materials (4.1 t DM cap−1 y−1). The latest was composed of 29% of pastures, 25% of branches for field burning, 35% of fuel wood, 6% fodder, 1% of construction wood and 4% of grains. The outputs (15.8 t cap−1 y−1) were dominated by CO2 (15.1 t cap−1 y−1). In contrast, the output of The Netherlands (66.8 t cap−1 y−1) is dominated by export with air emissions (19 t cap−1 y−1), export (16 t cap−1 y−1) and embedded export (29 t cap−1 y−1). The apparent eco-efficiency (kg per US dollar, excluding air and water, including hidden flows) is 70, 3, 3, 3 and 3 kg $−1 respectively for Sarowar, Japan, USA, Germany and The Netherlands. The corrected eco-efficiency using Purchasing Power Parity is less contrasted with respectively 18, 3, 3, 4 and 3 kg $−1. Traditional human ecosystem measurements can serve as a basic comparison point, and as a test for dematerialization indicators. The limit of the indicator of eco-efficiency resides in the different degrees of monetization of the economies. In less monetized economies, this indicator is highly biased by the underlying non-market material flows. We discuss the use of ratios of non-substitutable factors in dematerialization assessment and we suggest the use of multi-criteria analysis instead.

Eco-efficiency of circular economy development of Guangdong Province

根据循环经济的本质和生态效率的内涵, 在借鉴国内外循环经济研究中所建立的生态效率指标体系的基础上, 构建了度量广东省循环经济发展状况的生态效率指标, 并分析了1990~2007年间广东省经济增长及生态效率要素的变化趋势。结果表明, 广东省GDP在18年间呈快速增长的趋势, 自然输入要素的生态效率和劳动生产率不断上升, 尤其是用水产出率和建设用地产出率, 年均增长率分别达21.29%和17.28%, 但均低于GDP的年均增长速度。人类环境影响方程(IPAT)衍生公式预测结果显示, 如果维持目前经济增长模式, 到2015年广东省可以实现经济发展的战略目标, 但同期的能源消耗和环境负荷将逐年上升, 生态环境压力会越来越大。

Improving eco-efficiency in the steel industry: The ArcelorMittal Gent case

In addition to CO 2 released by the combustion of fossil fuel and leading to climate change, large steelworks emit pollutants that have other environmental impacts. ArcelorMittal Gent, an integrated steelwork producing ca. 5 × 10 6 tons of steel per year, not only decreased its specific energy consumption and CO 2-emissions, but also reduced the environmental impact of its other emissions. This is illustrated by means of the evolution of 6 partial eco-efficiency indicators for the impact categories acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, eutrophication and water use. The partial eco-efficiency indicators are eco-intensities, defined as the environmental impact in the respective impact category, divided by the amount of liquid steel produced. In the period 1995 – 2005 these indicators decreased by 45, 4, 52, 9, 11 and 33% respectively, whereas the steel production increased by 17%. The net impact of discharges of wastewater is negligible for human toxicity and is negative (concentrations lower than in the canal water used) for freshwater aquatic toxicity and eutrophication. For acidification, human toxicity (only emissions to air) and water use, the decoupling between environmental impact and production was absolute; for photo-oxidant formation, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (only emissions to air) and eutrophication, it was relative.

THE ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AS A MOTIVATION TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standard has become an extensive environmental tool in the field of corporate responses to sustainability. Some organizations in Mauritius have actively participated in implementing this standard and much need to be done to train experts in formulating investment projects so as to move towards ISO 14001 implementation and certification, thus preserving the natural environment. The aim of the project was to investigate if the ISO 14000:1994 standards can be a pathway to environmental sustainability in industries in Mauritius. A set of eco-efficiency indicators (water and energy indicators) were adopted to measure the environmental performance of organizations and to support the implementation of the standard. Two case studies were selected namely Plant A (a dairy plant) and Plant B (a dyeing plant from a Textile industry). Plant A is already ISO 14001 certified and it is making use these indicators for its energy and water consumption to monitor its performance. The same set of ecoefficiency indicators were implemented for plant B which is not yet certified. Plant B is following the guidelines of the ISO 14001 standards to achieve its environmental objectives. Results obtained show that both plants affirmed that they are adequately monitoring their key significant aspects and they are complying with environmental laws and regulations. The number of companies in Mauritius having implemented ISO 9001:2000 amounts to 259 (ISO survey 2007). Out of this, there are about fourteen ISO 14000:1994 certified companies to date. The remaining companies feel a great need to integrate the ISO 14000 system into their existing management system. The only problem is that the environmental standard is more costly and need more infrastructures to build up. But this does not stop the company from following the guidelines of the ISO 14000 series and to monitor its environmental performance from its ecoefficiency indicators taken up from the standards. Keywords: ISO 14000, Sustainable Development, Eco-Indicators, Environmental Sustainability

Perceptive Adjectives and Eco-Efficiency Indicators: A Methodology to Choose Good Materials for a Sustainable Project

Perceptive Adjectives and Eco-Efficiency Indicators: A Methodology to Choose Good Materials for a Sustainable Project

The role of co-operation between academia and policymakers for the development and use of sustainability indicators – a case from the Finnish Kymenlaakso Region

In this article, we analyze the co-operation between academia and other stakeholders in the development and use of sustainability indicators. The empirical case is a self-assessment of a Life-Environment project, ECOREG (2002–2004), in which eco-efficiency indicators were constructed for the Finnish Kymenlaakso Region. In the article the relationship between academia and local decision-makers in both the ECOREG Project and the activities thereafter is examined. Contrary to many sustainability indicator initiatives the ECOREG indicators have been updated and used after the original project ended. A main conclusion of the article is that the use of the indicators is largely influenced by how they were originally developed. More specifically, that knowledge was jointly produced instead of being merely transferred from academia to policymakers affected the relevance of the indicators as well as the capabilities of local actors to use, update and further develop the indicators.

Water and wastewater eco-efficiency indicators for the sugar cane industry

The consumption of large volumes of water and the generation of organic compounds as liquid effluents are major environmental problems in sugar cane processing industry. The volume of freshwater required by this industry can be significantly reduced by recovering the intrinsic water present in sugar cane. This amount of freshwater will depend on the process technology. Three new indices for sugar cane plants are introduced in this work: WIN, which indicates the efficiency of water use, and EIN1 and EIN2, which quantify Chemical Oxygen Demand of wastewater. Selected case studies illustrate the advantages of employing these indices as guides for the selection among process design alternatives that account for environmental performance.

Eco-eficiência na produção de cera de Carnaúba no município de Campo Maior, Piauí, 2004

A Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H.E. Moore ou carnaúba gera um material sobre as folhas usado na fabricação de cera, matéria-prima de inúmeros produtos industriais. O Brasil é o único produtor de cera de carnaúba e o estado do Piauí, um importante influente. Neste, as condições naturais do município de Campo Maior favorecem a incidência da carnaubeira e sua tradição histórica na produção de cera tornaram-no um pólo regional. O objetivo geral é analisar, na produção de cera de carnaúba, os elementos e indicadores de eco-eficiência - associação de eficiência econômica com baixo impacto ambiental -, os específicos são: avaliar qualitativamente o consumo de materiais e de energia, emissão de substâncias tóxicas, existência de reciclagem de materiais e uso de recursos renováveis; construir e analisar indicadores de ecoeficiência. As informações e dados originaram-se de pesquisa direta em indústria de cera que representasse o padrão técnico e a participação no mercado no estado. Os resultados mostram que a produção industrial de cera impacta o meio ambiente com uso intenso de água, utilização da lenha e diesel como fonte energética, consumo de produtos químicos e emissão de poluentes, entretanto, atende importantes elementos de eco-eficiência como a reutilização de materiais e consumo de materiais renováveis.

Integration of Environmental and Economic Performance of Processes. Case Study on Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to introduce an easy-to-use environmental-economic index (EEI) which can be used for comparative purposes when assessing processes and services. The EEI differs from traditional ratiobased Eco-efficiency indicators, since it is defined instead as the sum of two components, one corresponding to environmental performance and the other to economic performance. In order to show the calculation of this index and its potential usefulness, it is used in an example where several Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for wastewater treatment are compared based on their life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and life-cycle cost. The options assessed are: solar-driven photo-Fenton, lamp-driven photo-Fenton, and ozonation. Solar-driven photo- Fenton appears as the preferable option from an integrated environmental-economic point of view, if the environmental and economic dimensions are equally weighed. The case study shows that EEI captures, in a single score, both environmental and economic information from a given set of alternative options, allowing us to assess their relative performance in a simple way.

Disclosing the Consumption of Natural Resources by the Companies through the Eco-efficiency Indicators

This study aims to show, according to the accounting standards, what should or should not be recognized and/or disclosed as environmental liabilities. It also aims to verify through of a real case, the capacity of the Eco-efficiency Indicators of providing information that allow an evaluation of the companies’ consumption of natural resources in their activities. The company under study was the Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão (CST) within the period from 1999 to 2003. The findings show that the traditional accounting model contemplates the recognition and demonstration of the possible environmental liabilities when companies exceed the legal limits of pollution, and/or when they assume constructive environmental liabilities. We still conclude that the Eco-efficiency Indicators proposed by the ISAR/UNCTAD would meet satisfy, at least partially, society’s demands for information that allow an increased control over company’s actions regarding the consumption of natural resources within legal and constructive limits. Finally, we emphasize the results are valid only for the searched company, the specific case analyzed.

Eco-efficiency and ecodesign in electrical and electronic products

Although it had been about 10 years since eco-efficiency and Factor X were proposed, these concepts were not actually utilized in companies. Accordingly, the author proposed eco-efficiency (Factor X) indicators and has actually utilized them since 2001 in companies, and has conducted many case studies of eco-efficiency and Factor X using these indicators. However, there remains an argument: the improvement of eco-efficiency (Factor X) is due to an improvement in functions and there is still a possibility that environmental impacts increase. So, this paper begins with a brief explanation of the proposed eco-efficiency (Factor X) indicators and the case studies. Next, eco-efficiency and ecodesign are discussed. This paper analyzes the relationship between functions and environmental impacts using results of quantitative evaluations and verifies the argument quantitatively. From this analysis result, the author found that most products improved the product's functions while reducing environmental impacts.

Cleaner production and methodological proposal of eco-efficiency measurement in a Mexican petrochemical complex

Abstract In the frame of the Petróleos Mexicanos Institutional Program for Sustainable Development, processes were evaluated in the manufacture operation of the petrochemical industry, with the purpose of reducing their ecological fingerprint. Thirteen cleaner production opportunities were registered in six process plants: ethylene oxide and glycols, acetaldehyde, ethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene switch and acrylonitrile, and 45 recommendations in the waste water treatment plant. Morelos is the second most important petrochemical complex in the Mexican and Latin American petrochemical industry. A tool was developed to obtain eco-efficiency indicators in operation processes, and as a result, potential savings were obtained based on best performance, as well as the integrated distribution of Sankey diagrams. Likewise, a mechanism of calculation to obtain economic savings based on the reduction of residues during the whole productive process is proposed. These improvement opportunities and recommendations will result in economic and environmental benefits minimising the use of water, efficient use of energy, raw materials and reducing residues from source, generating less environmental impacts during the process.